KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) today (Friday) has sought an explanation from the officials of Karachi Development Authority (KDA) on reductions made in the dues paid to former employees.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, enquired from KDA Director-General and Member Finance the amount of dues that remained to be paid to former employees.
The officials told the court that 36 percent of the dues were yet to paid, at which the counsel for the petitioners claimed that the officials were misleading the court.
“They have devised a faulty formula to calculate the remaining dues and a large amount is left to be paid,” he contended. At this, the court called the member finance, KDA to the rostrum.
Justice Mazhar, in particular, remarked, “Will you understand the gravity of the situation if we withhold your salary? Who are you to devise a formula?” The court warned, “We will resurrect a previous order and the payment of salary to everyone will be stopped.”
It further stated, “Who is responsible for this mess? Do you think you are doing people a favour of giving them charity instead of their dues?” The court also warned the member finance that warrants for his arrest could be issued. “Under which law are the dues of poor people being reduced,” the judge asked.
Separately, the court also issued notices to the KDA DG, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and other parties, seeking explanations on a plea pertaining to the alleged illegal occupation of parks and China cutting of the said amenity plots in Gulistan-e-Johar block-I.
The counsel for the petitioner maintained that the land for the park had been illegally occupied through forged documents. He moved the court to direct the relevant authorities to free the land of illegal occupation in light Supreme Court orders.
